Alergic reaction to another person's use of body lotions.
I'm a 59 yr. old male and have often had allergic like reactions to significant others using body lotions and possibaly some perfumes and makeup. I can develop itchiness in my eyes and a feeling of tightness around them, and breathing becomes more difficult - which then can lead to tiredness. This has been an ongoing issue for me through a 22 yr. marriage, a recent relationship, and now my present relationship. Not using these substances is an obvious solution, but does not go over very well.
Are there common substances in these products that are known to cause problems in people? It would be nice to look for products that might be used and avoid others. Personally, I would quit using these products if they were making someone else sick, or use baby oil, vasoline or whatever. But it's not that simple - suggesting someone to quit using these products seems to be like asking them to give up an addiction.
Hi Fred,
Yes, there are many ingredients in lotions, shampoos, hair products -- even body washes, soaps, and laundry detergents -- that can cause some people allergic reactions.
Have you seen an allergist? An allergist is a specialty physician who can do some tests to help figure out exactly what you may be allergic to. A dermatologist may also be able to help you figure out just what ingredients cause your skin reactions.
If you have food allergies, there are literally hundreds of products that may bother you. Here is an article that lists the 8 most common food allergens and the words that may appear on ingredients lists to indicate their presence:
For example, Arachis oil is common in lotions, but it's derived from peanuts, which can cause severe allergic reactions in people allergic to peanuts.
It is possible that you are not exactly "allergic" to some of these products, but the fragrances and odors in them might irritate your eyes, nose or skin.
Dr. James Thompson on this site wrote an article all about that here:
Rhinitis: Fragrances And What You Can Do To Avoid Them
Here's another tip you may want to try: Look online for allergy-friendly, irritant-free, trendy beauty products online or in a local health food or natural food store. These products may eliminate the ingredients causing you problems, but still satisfy your significant other's desire for prefumey beauty products.
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Big 8 Food Allergies
Spot these food allergy offenders in any food and protect yourself from a reaction.
